How to Get Into Voice Acting

By: Nate Myers

Alright! Starting from square one - this is everything you need to know about how to get into voice acting. We will cover voice acting in general, voice training, the voice skills and equipment you’ll need, and we’ll also get into marketing yourself on social media.

Voice Acting Overview

It’s important to start with the knowledge that anyone can do this, even kids and teens! There isn’t a “perfect voice” that casting directors are searching for. What matters most is authenticity. We’ll cover that more in the future but let that set the stage.

It isn’t difficult to become a voice actor (sometimes known as a voice-over artist or voice talent). But that also depends on what success looks like to you. If you’re looking for some side income or if you’re looking for an entire career. Your definition of success may differ from someone else’s.

There are amazing opportunities within voice-over. You can be part of the next big animated movie, narrate someone’s favorite book, or work with big brands on radio or TV commercials. The possibilities are actually astounding.

Voice Over Actors operate mainly like independent agents or freelancers. They make their own schedule and invest the time they’re comfortable with. Also, similar to a freelancer, you can set your own rates. What is your time worth to you? Just be prepared to back that up with some great reads and a demo reel. (https://www.voiceshopcoaching.com/blog/2022/6/27/voice-over-demo-reel-whats-the-deal).

How Much Can You Make In Voice Acting?

The obvious answer is - it varies. There is a ramp-up period where you must invest more time and effort into getting gigs. An established voice over actor can earn $200+ per hour. Depending on the regularity of jobs, you’ll likely make less than $20k for the first few years. Most successful voice over actors moved their voice over careers forward while working regular jobs. When their income rose to a comfortable level, they transitioned to 100% voice-over.

There are many types of voiceovers:

·         Commercial (TV/Radio)

·         Film

·         Video Games

·         Animation

·         Audiobooks

·         Podcasts

·         Live Events

Finding the right niche for you based on preference or natural fit will take some time. But that’s okay! Throw yourself at every opportunity and use them as learning opportunities. Often you will at the very least receive feedback on how to improve your takes and become better over time.

Voice Over Training

Much like other trades or professions, it’s better to arm yourself with skills and knowledge before jumping into the fray. However, voice-over isn’t often a typical degree or even college course. Where can you turn?

Luckily The Voice Shop (https://www.voiceshopcoaching.com/) has you covered. The Voice Shop is a voice coaching and voice education initiative. The Voice Shop’s mission is to establish and develop the voice skills necessary for you to succeed as a voice over professional.

The Voice Shop in New York City offers
voice acting classes in-person and online.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, a wide range of voice over classes, workshops, and private voice lessons are taught by esteemed industry veterans.  The Voice Shop gives students the skills and industry-savvy knowledge of voice over to take their careers to the next level.

In addition, Free Consultations are offered to give you an in-depth look at our class offerings and to help you determine which class is the best fit for you. Give us a call or email to set up a time to meet with Jessica, our Director of Education, at info@voiceshopcoaching.com. You’ll get a run-down of our class offerings, a personal assessment, and a chance to ask any questions you may have free of charge. Please take advantage of our free consultations to get the support you need when you need it!

Home Recording Studio

The next step is what you might consider voice-over’s barrier to entry. But don’t worry, getting into voice over can be affordable from an equipment standpoint. We’ve written an entire blog to help you identify the necessities, budget-friendly options, and even some recommendations to take you to the next level.

Read the full article (https://www.voiceshopcoaching.com/blog/2021/3/11/setting-up-your-home-for-remote-vo-recording).

Finding Voice Acting Work

So, you’ve got the skills, you’ve got the equipment. What now?

The first step is a demo reel. Consider this your resume for the voice acting world. It shows you at your best and highlights what makes you unique and desirable for someone to work with! Here is the article again, because it is that important:

(https://www.voiceshopcoaching.com/blog/2022/6/27/voice-over-demo-reel-whats-the-deal).

Long story short- The Voice Shop has you covered by providing professional voice over demo reels. Not only do we have professional mixing and editing capabilities, but we also have the industry knowledge of what casting directors are looking for in a candidate. Once your demo reel is secured, what next?

Marketing

It comes down to marketing. And this is something that will become a staple piece of your career in voice-over. Social media plays a big part in establishing yourself in the industry. Put yourself out there, don’t be afraid!

By far, the best content will be video content of you recording takes. TikTok is our recommended starting point. The organic exposure on TikTok is second to none. And you can always download your videos from there and repost them on Instagram Reels to easily cover two platforms! There are many types of voice over content on social media. Impersonations, live takes, vlogs of your travels/recording if you get an in-person gig, interviews, etc. Be creative!

And be on the prowl. Apply for everything and anything. The worst thing that can come from the application process is feedback on where to improve. Best case, you land a gig and are on your way! Best of luck! See you out there!

Who is the Voice of “How It’s Made” by Discovery Channel?

By Keith Brunson

Brooks Moore is a storyteller. One of the best there is. As the narrator for the discovery channel’s show “How’s It’s Made,” Brooks is the voice of choice for the television industry’s most recognizable brand.

Brooks Moore is the famous voice narrator of the Discovery Channel’s “How It’s Made” show.

Raised around the show horse business, the very young 10th grader became interested in radio at age 13 in 1979. Educated at the University of Maryland, Brooks knew from day one that working in broadcasting and storytelling would become his life’s work. Mentored by the very famous Steve Burns, a television icon, Brooks discovered radio in 1979. “and I liked it instantly.” This affection foreshadowed Brooks’ future that would be told as a nationally acclaimed narrator for the discovery channels’ most recognizable show.

“It requires luck,” says brooks, “and you have to work for it; it’s not handed to you.”  Brooks is involved in the superstructure of the brand over twenty years ago, comments on his introduction to very well-known Steve Burns, “so he took me under his wing at Discovery, and things started to really happen.”

Brooks also had the power of renowned broadcaster Hal Douglas behind him. “When Hal befriended me, it opened doors.”

Hal Douglas helped Brooks make connections in the world of voice-over.

Politics aside, Brooks was first given the narrator position on “How’s It’s Made” from 2004 to 2008, only to be restored as the show’s permanent narrator when a letter-writing campaign got him reinstated after a couple of seasons of another narrator being used.

“It was quite a surprise,” says Brooks, “but because I love storytelling so much, I think it just came through that I was at home when narrating.”

But all of this “luck” would not have happened if Brooks had not been at the right place at the right time. A scratch track was needed for a show, and Brooks cut the track so that the impending narrator would have a baseline.

“So had if I had not cut that scratch track at that moment in on that particular day, then my voice would have never been heard, and my political connections would not have been able to award me the show,” Brooks says. “I remember it all so well. It was October of 2003.”

That particular lucky track got brooks on TLC, Nat Geo, and the Science Channel, which led to “How It’s Made.”

Brooks believes deeply in the concept of being a type-B personality. “I let go of everything, and I try to be open and available every day of my life,” he says. “I don’t have to control everything.” It’s that simple mindset that has enabled Mr. Moore to remain a constant force in the biggest network brand in the world. But being inside the organization is the first step to achieving this high honor status because “they only work with and empower people that they know.”

And content-wise, it all happened early on because of this episode, the story of how the glass eye is made.

And now, some twenty years later, the 59-year-old narrator has become the voice of one of the Discovery Channel’s most famous shows. There are no plans to cancel the series, and Brooks has become very comfortable inside the worldwide operation. The reason? Brooks comments in closing, “It’s because I truly love storytelling, and that’s all there really is to it.”

Always Learning, Always Improving Voice Over Skills

Voice Shop Instructor Spotlight: Steve Tardio (Animation Voice Over)

Interview by: Nate Myers

Nate: Steve, tell me a little about your journey to where you are today. Your first steps into voice over and such.

Steve: When I started getting into voice over and was trying to find my niche, I started asking around. I could do Commercial Promo, Animation, etc. So, I asked around about good classes to take, and everyone kept saying, “Take improv classes.”

So, I went to some improv schools in New York and Chicago and started taking classes. These programs helped me develop characters and physical comedy. You must be physical in the booth to get into character.

After that, I went into coaching improv and all that helped my background when creating voiceovers.

 Steve Tardio is a voice coach at The Voice Shop in New York City.

https://www.voiceshopcoaching.com/

Nate: Would you say “you put in the time”?

Steve: I still do. I just finished the Conservatory Program and am now in the Grad Review program at The Second City. The Second City has an audition process for both programs where students audition, and once accepted, you develop a new show. Students develop and write sketches for a comedy show through improv!

 Overall, it’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon. Sometimes you do voice over and it leads to other things. I mean, I was cast into my first Broadway Musical Comedy before COVID! It is a constant continuing cycle. It’s always trying to study and find what’s new, develop, and improve. I ask myself, “What else can I do to stay fresh”?

 Nate: What is something you use to set yourself above the competition?

 Steve: The improv helps (if you have skill at acting or voices). There are a lot of people out there that are trying to succeed in voice over. One of the things that really helped me stand out was marketing.

Sure, no one sounds like you. Your voice is unique. But how do you get that across? One of the things that took me a while to understand and embrace is “How do I make myself stand out? How do I make my voice recognizable?” It’s taken a lot of time, investment, and thought. But I’ve established my personal brand as “The Older I Get - The Younger I Sound.” I use marketing to let people know I’m out there and available. Many aspiring voice-over talents think their agency or manager will take care of that, but EVERYONE counts on it. That doesn’t get your name out there. You need to try and hit the right people to put you at the top of the list.

You can't kick back and relax just because you have a manager or agent. You still must put in the work.

Nate: Tell me about your Animation Classes with The Voice Shop. What are they about, and how do they typically go?

Steve: Usually, students want to take the animation class because they already know what it is. Maybe they’re fans of an anime, an animated series, or film. So, they already have kind of an idea. They want to know more about that specific area when they come in.

What I do is I try to give them a broader picture of all the different categories of animation: traditional, anime, video games, etc. Give them a broader picture, and then they can narrow it down to what they want to do.

Usually, the class has 5-10 students. We go through all the different categories; everyone gets a chance to execute a read inside those different genres.

Nate: Have you had any highlights or breakthrough students?

Steve: There’s been a couple. Usually, they’re the ones that really want to make a career change. They have some “boring corporate job.” Then, in the class, when they hear, “Yes, there’s something there; we just need to refine it.” It quickly becomes: “Oh, okay!”

Often, they’ve got a sound that we just need to fine-tune!

In my Animation for Teens class, I had a student 15 years old from Texas. Usually, when they read the copy, they just read the words and put in very little emotion. This girl was 15, and another was in her mid-20s. When they read the copy, they really emoted and put some feeling and acting into it! I gave them some suggestions and notes. Then they did it again and did it even better! In the classes, that’s what I’m looking for. That’s what I want to hear!”

Nate: Okay, so put some feeling into it! What else can students do to get the most out of your classes?

Steve: Other things I’ve noticed: if they come in as trained actors or have other experience, they have some sort of impression that they are already ahead of the game. They feel like they know it all. A bit of overconfidence or even entitlement, you know?

“I know this; I’ve been doing this for years.”

“Oh, I’ve auditioned and got into this specific acting program, so I know what I am doing.”

And we need to bring them back to square one, day one.

When in-person, there are other schools where they audition and do the same thing. But in those environments, they forget about their predispositions. It comes down to passion and work ethic.

THERE HAS TO BE A HUNGER FOR IT. You need to be able to say, “Okay, I need to start from the bottom” Background will help but allow yourself to take direction. Have a growth mindset.

I have a recent favorite quote from Marc Cashman: 

“Your first take tells the director if you’re prepared; your second take tells the director if you’re listening.”

When auditioning, the Director will give you notes; they want to know if you’re listening to their notes/direction. If you read it back the same way you read it the first time, he knows you’re not.

I love this quote so much that I recently shared it during one of my classes, and the students had an epiphany moment. And I’m a little harder on students now because I know I’ve heard the same thing twice, and they aren’t listening.

Nate: I love that! Can you tell me about your most interesting recent job or gig?

Steve: I just booked a commercial where I’m the voice of a snail!

It’s for these hiking shoes that have a good grip on the heels. It’s live actors hiking, and there are these two snails (I play one of them).

The audition was to play one of the snails, named Michael and Jonah, which is a Superbad reference. I’ve auditioned for parts like this before.

At the top of the audition take, I said, “Oh, Jonna Hill, I get it.” “Oh, Michael Sara, I get it.” I accidentally left those moments on the takes that I sent to my agent!

A couple of days later, my agent texted me asking for availability, and here I am!

I got the Jonah snail because I went overboard. Bigger, loud, obnoxious. The hikers almost step on the snail, and I go, “Hey, I’m crawling here, watch it” Being from New York, I fell right into character with that line. You know, the classic “Hey, I’m walking here!”

When I actually booked the job, one of the takes was even “too New York,” so we scaled it back a little. It was a fun session! We went 1.5 hours instead of 1 hour, which is always nice because you get paid more!

Years ago, I had a very similar audition as a talking hot pocket. The same idea with Michael and Jonah Hill. That time I booked Michael.

Nate: That makes me wonder, how do you reconcile differences between your personal identity and the character you’re auditioning for?

Steve: There is a little bit of picking the scripts that resonate best with you. But there’s also the mindset from Michael Cane:

 “Throw yourself into it. Challenge yourself to be the best you can be.”

Put your own spin on it, and let the casting director make the call, whether they like it or not. Still audition for anything and everything you can but do it in YOUR way.

For example, you can’t picture anyone but James Earl Jones doing Darth Vader. There are YouTube clips from BTS of the first Star Wars movie (A New Hope) where actor David Prowse - who is in the Darth Vader suit - is saying the lines, and it’s very interesting, weird, and strange all at the same time because David Prowse has a Scottish accent. James Earl Jones made the part his, and now he IS the voice of Darth Vader.

Just like the Simpsons, those actors made those voices. In fact, in many cartoons, the voice starts out different, and then the actor grows into the role as the seasons roll on.

You become the character, and the character becomes you.

Introducing The Voice Shop’s Newest Addition, Podcast instructor, Mr. David DesRoches

By Keith Brunson

It is early morning in the continent of Africa. David Desroches is beginning his day. It’s already becoming hot outside. And the day has already started to produce its’ challenges. That’s because David’s story begins in Ethiopia, where he started a community news outlet. He was only 28 years old but wanted to practice journalism where information is not so readily available.

David Desroches in Ethiopia at the start of his journalism career.

And living in Africa is no walk in the park, “but the coffee is really good, “says David. “Every day was different, but most days were like waking up in America.” https://daviddesroches.com

“There were times when I woke up in a tent or a barn with 50 strangers,” says David. “But I wouldn’t want to overdramatize it.” Sharing your food, your dwelling, or asking if someone would share their barn or tent with you for a night is culturally commonplace. “But all and all, I lived in the top 5-10 percent, but quite different than western standards.” And that’s where our story of The Voice Shop’s David Desrochees begins. It begins in Africa, where his thirst for knowledge and discovery shaped his life forever. I think it still does.

David pauses to enjoy the natural beauty of Africa.

Fast forward, and David works at the NPR radio affiliate in Hartford, Connecticut. There, he spent over five years in an ultra-organized relaxing atmosphere. The goal is journalistic excellence coupled with colleagues who pride themselves on accuracy and emphasize the non-chaotic atmosphere that network television news is known for. “It’s thoughtful audio production,” says David. And true to form, David is perceived as a thoughtful producer. Our conversation telegraphed a teacher who had been around. “And being versatile makes for a good teacher, leader, and mentor,” said my very own professor Dr. John Carr at the University of Tennessee, where I got my degree in journalism.

These days, David is an adjunct professor as the Director of Community Programming at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. https://www.qu.edu/faculty-and-staff/david-desroches  Tuition is $41,000 a year, and Quinnipiac graduates 72% of its bibliomaniacs. This means that you don’t go to Quinnipiac to party. You’ll experience college life. Of course. But the goal is an education surrounded by high-value individuals. For the uninitiated, it’s a small quaint college for the upper class. It can be considered the crème de la crème for the student who wants only the very best in a small, interpersonal collegiate experience. David has been teaching journalism there for about seven years. “I think back to Africa, and my perspective on communications and journalism is well adjusted.” David teaches with a life experience developed in real-world journalism to bring to the classroom. He IS the real deal. https://hqnn.org/2021/10/09/quinnipiac-podcast-studio-gives-a-voice-to-the-community/

David’s extensive journalist background is utilized in his curriculum as
the podcast instructor for The Voice Shop.

David joins The Voice Shop as our first podcaster instructor. And he’ll teach you from concept to completion. By your first show, you will know how to create, engineer, and produce storytelling content for the world to see. And it’s not like he’s just a bookworm. Oh no, David’s got his own podcast at Quinnipiac. https://quinnipiacpodcasts.com/baffled-with-david-desroches And, he’s got a solid and active background in storytelling. He’s worked internationally. He’s also worked domestically at America’s most prestigious terrestrial radio outlet. So, David can take you into the podcast world and enable you to have a vehicle to communicate any subject you choose.

At The Voice Shop, Mr. DesRoches will train you in all avenues of how a podcast is created and hosted. That includes the technical aspects of podcasting, not just the spoken part. David will teach you how to set up your podcast rig in your own home, and you’ll learn how to be both an engineer of podcasting and a storyteller. The subject matter is up to you. It’ll be your show. But, once enrolled in his tutelage, the actual coaching will continue as you grow and improve. You’ll never be left without his instruction or advice on becoming a professional communicator.

The experts all agree the new television is the internet. Information will disseminate via podcasts using computer technology. Television as we know it will eventually cease to exist. “And I’m right here for the person that wants to learn everything about how to communicate in this new technological world,” says David. “Because the future of journalism will develop via the internet, and I’m looking right now for those that want to become educated on just how powerful the web is,” he says, “and that is the student that’ll succeed.”

So, if you’re sitting there right now and you’ve been looking for someone to teach you podcasting, David DesRoches can be found at www.voiceshopcoaching.com. You won’t have to know anything. All you’ll need is the drive and ambition to become “a voice” in the world of communications. You can learn with Mr. DesRoches at home at your own pace. Cost is nominal compared to college. And unlike university life, you’ll be taught everything that is podcast-related. No math. No physics. No time studying Mesopotamia. Just classes and mentorship about the artform of the podcast. And unlike David, you won’t have to leave the country on a sojourn that cultivates your inner soul. Under David’s instruction, you’ll be on-mic quick. You’ll be taught how to think creatively in a podcast way. However, African coffee is NOT part of the deal. “For that,” says David, “You will have to go to Africa.” And we suggest you bypass that continental adventure.

How To Get Into Voiceover From A Nationally Known Professional Voice Over Artist

By Keith Brunson

So, you'd like to get into voiceover. You've been told you have a good voice. You want to become a paid voice actor because of your vocal beauty. So, where do you start? To answer this question, I've gone to the source. If you've heard radio or television over the past twenty years, there is an excellent chance you've heard Wendy Zier. Her credits are a laundry list of companies that any voiceover talent would love to claim. But before we expand on Wendy's story, look at how she morphs from one personality to another reading with no rehearsal for the TikTok voiceover challenge.

Voice-over artist Wendy Zier goes from "cool" to "intimate" and more in the TikTok Voiceover Challenge.

Wendy Zier can be referred to as somewhat of a national treasure. Here are but a few of her companies that she has voiced. Hasbro. IBM. Disney. McDonald's. Amazon. Samsung. Wells Fargo. Blue Cross Blue Shield. United Airlines in flight. On and on. "If you've heard major league advertising, chances are, it's me voicing it at one time or another," says Wendy. But Wendy's life story in voiceover expands beyond ads into narration, I.T., and medical narration. All of this was accomplished throughout a long and prosperous career. And at this writing, Wendy is voicing for Amazon. www.wendyvoices.com

Wendy voices but also teaches VO etiquette. "There is a manner by which the artist needs to know how to accept direction and respond to it," she says. "And part of that etiquette is showing gratitude for the moment." The recognition is purely secretive. "It's like you're famous, but no one knows who you are."

In voiceover, having a good voice is simply not enough. There are technical requirements that you must master, "And you have to know how to be a listener and learn how to behave in a voiceover session," Wendy explains. "It's part of it," says Wendy, who began her craft 25 years ago and made $30,000 her first year. That's not a fortune, but it is where she financially began at 28 years old.

So today, we are here to teach you how to get into voiceover. And it's here that Wendy Zier becomes the answer to your inspiration. "It begins with desire," she comments. "And it is fair to say that it is not an easy road, but with hard work and persistence, if you're willing to put In the time, it'll pay off." Here's Wendy on video, instructing the tuning fork of the elbow in a comedy fashion. This is a real thing.

Voice talent Wendy Zier creates voice-over instruction videos with a twist of humor.

Wendy believes you must nurture your voice talent, "and that begins with professional training, coaching and learning the business principles by which the voiceover business casts the voices you hear." And the first thing you'll be taught is, "How can I differentiate my voice from someone else within the first 3-5 seconds in the audition?" Wendy believes a good quality audition is the key to getting noticed, "And it helps to be humble and agree to the process of how to get hired," she says.

However, some companies will try anything to get a voice they like for a price they cannot afford. Here's a true story. "It was a national hamburger franchise, and they wanted my voice for commercials. I agreed…until they told me they'd pay me in hamburger coupons, so I passed," Wendy tells me, "And they were serious. My voice. Free hamburgers." Watch out for people like this; she advises, "because no one wants free hamburgers in exchange for their God-given gift."

If you feel you have a gift, contact The Voice Shop In New York. www.voiceshopcoaching.com Voice classes from beginner to advanced are taught in-studio or remotely. So, no matter where you're reading this, you can study voiceover in an online group class or with private voice instruction. There are coaches for all genres. All styles.

"You can't get anywhere without training," advises Wendy. You want to get into voiceover? Start here.

Voice Over Booths, Why and How to Get One

By: Nate Myers

One of the primary draws to voice over work is having complete control of your schedule and generating income using your creative and natural talents. While this is generally true of all voice-over work, there are many times you will have to travel a short or even long distance to a professional recording studio to record your takes. This can be costly if not subsidized by your client!

However, this is the only choice for many voice-over artists, regardless of cost. The lack of a suitable recording environment applies in so many situations like those living in an apartment, a home with children, having a roommate, thin walls, or a location next to train tracks. The world is a noisy place!

You may look into soundproofing your room or workspace. But this can be costly, time-consuming, and aesthetically tricky. If you don’t hang your soundproof panels level or plan out your space, it can be easy to end up with something you don’t like. Oh, and forget about moving! You’ll have set it up all over again!

Wait, so are you saying that voice over isn’t worth it? It is too hard?

No!

Conversely, it is possible to get decent recordings in other affordable ways. There is a perfect middle ground. That’s right! Professional level sound reduction, isolation from the outside world, and completely echo-free audio:

Enter the Voice Over Sound Booth!

A voice-over sound booth can be set up in almost any room.

The voice-over booth is an extremely flexible choice to completely isolate yourself and your recordings from the outside world. A VO booth offers all the pros of a professional recording studio while experiencing none of the cons:

1.    Flexible Assembly and Dis-assembly

2.    Sound Reduction

3.    Echo-free recording

4.    Booth Lighting

Let’s dive into each of these points and discuss how our partner VoiceSuite provides each benefit to our customers!

Flexible Assembly and Dis-assembly

VoiceSuite sound booths are designed to make them extremely easy to assemble. Each soundproof wall is detached from the others to ship economically. Easier shipping means it is easier for you to move around.

Where do you want your booth? This corner? No, this one? Don’t worry about making a permanent decision and altering the structure of your home. Just set it up wherever suits you best!

Sound Reduction

Each VoiceSuite sound booth provides 25-30db of sound reduction. This is for sound coming in (that would corrupt your recording) and for sound going out (which is very convenient for the renters among us). You also can add a double-wall system which adds about 25% more sound deadening. Incredible!

The sound reduction is achieved through the booth design and materials that accommodate professional recordings.

Echo-Free Recording

While sound reduction is essential to a professional recording space, it isn’t everything. If you’re recording in an echoic environment, the sound will carry over into your recordings and will be impossible to edit out. Let’s not go down that path, eh? VoiceSuite booths are entirely covered on the inside with acoustic pyramid foam that dissipates and absorbs sound waves—leaving your voice bouncing into nothing but the microphone itself.

Voice-over sound booths can be customized with windows, skylights, lighting, and more.

Booth Lighting

VoiceSuite sound booths allow natural and artificial light into your recording booth. A window or multiple windows can be added to your booth to prevent it from feeling claustrophobic. For the night owls, artificial lighting is also supplied inside.

As you can see, VoiceSuite sound booths are incredibly functional in design. They check all the right boxes and provide an ideal solution for any musician, vocalist, or voice-over artist. But it doesn’t stop there. Functionality is the bare minimum for a company like VoiceSuite.

VoiceSuite also offers an incredible number of options for personalization and beautification. These include:

·         Additional windows

·         Sound floors

·         Carpet floors

·         Pine French doors with glass panels

·         Door color options

·         Glass ceilings

·         Optional collapsible desk inside the booth

·         Acoustic foam upgrades

·         Additional foam colors

·         Ventilation systems (quiet, AC Infinity Fan)

·         and more - Just ask!

Because of all these things AND the reasonable price point, it’s our pleasure to endorse Keith Dwyer and his VoiceSuite sound booths.

To get a free upgrade to the 3-inch acoustic interior foam, use the code VOICESHOP at checkout: https://voicesuite.net/

Voice Over Demo Reel, What's the Deal?

By: Nate Myers

For an aspiring Voice Over Artist, the demo reel is an absolutely essential tool that is often overlooked. Welcome to Demo Reel 101.

·         Perhaps you have heard it mentioned a couple of times but are not sure what it actually is.

·         Maybe you know what it is but don't know where to start.

·         Maybe you're almost there but need some polishing touches to really sell yourself.

If any of these statements sound familiar, this article is written for you!

What is a Voice Over Demo Reel?

Think of a demo reel as a highlight montage of your voice: your greatest moments, and most spectacular performances, all combined together. Essentially a demo reel is this compilation of your finest work.

Traditionally (and still sometimes today), a purely audio demo reel was common practice. If you've ever seen a clip or watched episodes of The Voice, it is a popular TV show where judges turn their backs and listen to a singer. Without their eyes, they judge the voice on its intrinsic qualities alone—no visual bias. An audio demo reel helps you fit in that same mold. In all cases, but especially in a 100% audio format, professional production is essential to set you apart (more on that later).

Ideally, you would have a demo reel in video and audio form. These days, video translates easily to TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube shorts, etc. A demo reel is a killer way to put yourself on social media. If you can build a following or stand out from the crowd, why wouldn't you want that?

 Voice over demo examples found on the Voice Shop's sister company, Creative Media Design:

https://www.cmdnyc.com/voice-over-talent-casting

Why Record a Demo Reel?
Obviously, this isn't an article about social media prowess. So, what is the true value of a demo reel? Professionally it serves as your resume to casting agencies, websites, and direct applications. Obviously, a written resume for voice over is nice, but when it comes to art (music, singing, voice-over), it is something better experienced with your senses. A demo reel bridges that gap and allows potential opportunities to gauge your abilities and get a true sense of your voice. Let your potential employers get a true taste of your voice. Because it exists as digital media, clients can listen to it directly online. In a world that is becoming more remote than ever, live auditions are on their way out. Demos are the way to go.

How Do I Get Started on My Demo Reel?

First, identify your target audience. You may say, "Wait, this sounds like marketing!" And you would be correct. A Demo Reel is an independent contractor's marketing content. You are marketing yourself.

In identifying your target audience, it is helpful to think of this in terms of desired work. Do you want to go into Podcast Hosting? Animation? Audiobooks? Commercial Advertising? Each of these requires a different skill set. You would hate to send a clever, animated voice to someone looking to cast a serious voice for a biography. Know your audience and cater the content of your demo reel to that audience.

If you are just getting started, you may not know which part of the industry you want to work within. This is perfectly normal! We can help with that. The Voice Shop offers classes for all aspects of the voice-over industry. Seasoned voice coaches teach these classes. To find out more on upcoming voice classes in animation, commercial voice over, and more, check out our Class Schedule: http://www.voiceshopcoaching.com/class-schedule

Recording Your Demo Reel

The recording method you use for your demo reel will determine the end quality of your work. Remember, this is your voice-over resume. Get this part right. Many aspiring voice artists will not have the home studio necessary to produce high-integrity audio or video demos. It is helpful to enlist some professionals. Surprise! The Voice Shop can help with that as well. We offer professional recording, producing, and mastering services to all our students. This service often flies under the radar but can be the singular distinguishing detail that sets you above the competition. We can help record, add background tracks, edit the takes to include only your best work, etc. We also have connections if you need a studio for recording. Visit this page to learn more about our Demo Reel services and hear a couple of examples of demos we've helped create in the past: https://www.cmdnyc.com/audio-post-mixing

And that's it! The Voice Shop is here to help you learn about the industry, your voice, your unique voice, and its character, and also to help you sell all those great things to your future employers. So what are you waiting for?

The Voice Over Casting Director…What ARE They Looking For?

By Keith Brunson

Today I'll take you inside the mind of the Hollywood Voice Over Casting director. What is she looking for? How can you get her attention? How do you reduce the barrier to entry? And above all, what NOT to do.

Introducing Kelly Moshinski. She's the Owner of THE VOICECASTER. https://voicecaster.com/   Los Angeles' oldest and most established voice over casting office in southern California. Founded in 1975 by her predecessor, Bob Lloyd, who is now in the sunset of his life at 93 years old, Kelly casts union and non-union talent. She's looking for the best. The best in all voices, including celebrity kids, foreign languages, and accents. She's also the principal director of casting for voiceovers of an institution started in 1975.

Kelly Moshinski, the owner of THE VOICECASTER, specializes in casting voices for commercials, video games, and animation.

Nestled in Burbank, Kelly entered THE VOICECASTER after sending some 400 letters to casting directors looking for a place to develop. That was 11 years ago. Six years later, the founder sold the business to Kelly, and now she's the recipient of thousands of talented people that want to break through. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellymoshinski  She spends her days with her team pouring through countless demo tapes in search of that special person she can recommend. She's also a sound engineer and demo producer—more on the significance of the demo a little later.

Casting directors don't cast. They recommend. And they do so after sifting through a mountain of talent who want to get noticed. So, the casting director in film and voiceover should be perceived as your friend, not your adversary. They Want you to impress them. They're searching for you. And they find you after you find them. https://twitter.com/thevoicecaster. To become a talent of choice, there is much more than being talented. "I'd recommend someone who is easy to work with before I'd deal with a super talented person who was hard to get along with." Says Kelly. "Being easy to get along with is more important than being good."

Initially starting with the ambition to become a doctor, Kelly slid to a theatre degree and started acting in college and learning the art of performing. "Voice Over IS acting," says Kelly, "and while some people don't realize the reality of voice over, it's ALL acting FIRST."

Companies attracted to a voiceover casting director will come to Kelly to save time. She's sifted through who's out there, and Kelly can bring a talented voice to the attention of a producer and omit the search a production company or ad agency will have to spend to find the person that Kelly already knows and can vouch for the person. https://instagram.com/thevoicecaster. "We know the talent, their versatility, their personal side, and their ability, so we are the connection that talent is looking for if they're truly serious about using their voice to act."

You can't depend on a career just from an agent or casting director, "You have to work for it," says Kelly, "and we present the best possible talent to match the best possible project for anybody and everybody looking for that special voice."

Decisions on who makes the cut occur quickly. "I know within the first five to ten seconds of the demo if that person has "The IT Factor," says Kelly. "I'm listening to their demo and can tell if it's a homemade demo which is not advised." Kelly is listening for the proper production techniques, including technical aspects such as equalization, modulation, and the overall pace of the demo. "Anybody that really wants to become a voiceover actor should a hire a producer who specializes in demo tape production," Kelly tells me. "It makes all the difference in the world to have a professionally made demo by a producer that knows how to produce them." Here's a worthy plug. Kelly produces demos.

The voices you hear that you never see are comprised of a very small group of people. "It's not a big group at all; in fact, it's a very few people that we know personally and stay in touch with that get cast," says Kelly. "With us, we want to know the talent inside and out," says Kelly. "It's hard to self-direct." And therein lies the secret. It's teamwork. The goal is to have a group of people working together to compose a final product that is as good as possible.

Specializing in commercials, video games, and animation, Kelly is presently casting a pilot for an animation series and a national commercial. She's approachable and interested. But you must make the first move. Casting directors do not find you; you find them. And just so you will know, she returns phone calls. She did mine. You're next!